Egg carton and egg filler assembling machine



Dec. 10, 1940,. J. L. COYLE 2,224,510

EGG CARTON AND EGG FILLER ASSEMBLING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 12, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm QNmM INVENTIJR .1L.|: IJYLE.

J. L. COYLE 2,224,510

Filed Nov. 12, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 EGG CARTON- AND EGG FILLER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Dec. 10, 1940.

Dec. 10, 1940. 2,224,510

nee CARTON AND EGG FILLER ASSEMBLING MACHINE J. L. COYLE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 12, 1938 Dec. 10, 1940. 2,224,510

nee CARTON AND EGG FILLERASSEMBLING momma J. L. I c YLE Filed NOV. 12, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 m n n I I INVENTDR. .lLE YL E.

Dec. 10, 1940. J. COYLE 2.224,510

EGG CARTON AND EGG FILLER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I; 62 44' E 32% 0 g 6 3/ 32 35 3 7 g 35 16 i 63 l 5/ FIGRI 3- 27 F1512 I INVENTEI B LQBDYLE Dec. 10, 1940. J, COYLE 2,224,510

AIEGGHCARTON AND EGG FILLER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 3 FIB-IE INVENTEIR J.L.G D'YLE.

Dec. 10, 1940. J. L. COYLE EGG CARTON AND EGG FILLER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTUR JLEUYLE.

J. L. COYLE EGG CARTON AND EGG FILLER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Dec. 10, 194-0.

FiledNbv. 12, 1958 a Sheets-Sheet a mum. \QN gm "lllll:

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mm m mJ NM;

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG CARTON AND EGG FILLER ASSEMBLING MACHINE 88 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in egg cartons and egg filler assembling machines, and the object of the invention is to devise a machine which will automatically assemble parallel and cross Wall members into a carton or filler of the type disclosed in my co-pending United States application Serial No. 146,024, filed June 2nd, 1937, and which will collapse the assembled carton or filler into flat form suitable for shipment, and it consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the type of carton assembled by my machine.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parallel side wall members of the carton separated apart in the general position they assume when in my machine.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the cross wall members of the carton.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of my machine.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 4'.

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 4, the cross wall chutes and the parallel member feeding mechanism being removed and adjacent parts broken away to exhibit the carton collapsing mechanism and the mechanism for tilting the cross walls from a horizontal to a vertical position.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on line 'l-l Fig. 4, the supporting arm of the cross wall gripping mechanism in the cross wall inserting position being removed.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 Fig. '7

showing the feed rolls and driving mechanism in full.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are enlarged cross sectional views through the cross wall tipping mechanism broken away intermediately of their length.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective detail of the tipping mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a plan sectional view of the major portion of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail of the cross wall inserting mechanism and showing a cross wall in the position it assumes as it enters the slots of the parallel members of the carton.

Fig. 15 is a similar view to Fig. 14 showing cross wall inserted to draw the parallel carton members out of their holders.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through one member of the cross wall gripping mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a plan detail of the holder for the parallel carton members shown by fine dotted lines and showing the cross wall guides, cross walls, and their gripping members in section.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional detail on line l8-IB Fig. 4.

Fig. 19 is a sectional detail of the chute containing the parallel carton members.

Fig. 20 is a sectional detail on line 2020 Fig. 4.

Fig. 21 is an end view of one of the gripper arms.

Figs. 22 and 23 are perspective details of the gripping plates for the carton cross walls.

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the right hand portion of the machine showing a modified construction of cross wall tipping mechanism.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view through Fig. 24 showing one arm of the gripping mechanism in the position it assumes after gripping and lifting a cross wall.

Fig. 26 is an enlarged sectional detail of the tipping mechanism illustrated in Figs. 24 and 25 showing the cross walls in the horizontal position in full lines and in the vertical or tipped position by dotted lines. v

Fig. 27 is an enlarged perspective detaiLof a fragmentary portion of the gripper *fi'm and plates.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated the type of carton which my machine is designed to assemble. In this figure the carton comprises parallel members A and B each including an outer wall C and a bottom wall D. The outer walls are provided with transverse slots E terminating at their upper ends in slits F and the bottom Wall with transverse slots G. H are the cross walls of the carton provided with a central body I having bottom tongues I extending through the slots G and end tonguesJ and J extending through the slots E and carried by the portion J. V

The carton is not described further in detail as it does not form part of the present invention but is only illustrated to renderthe object and operation of my machine more clear.

I will now describe the construction of my machine which is the subject of the present application.

The. main frame of the machine includes side members 2| and 22 provided with guide ribs 23 and 24 forming slideways 25 and 26 for a slidable base plate 21 reciprocated therein by mechanism hereinafter described. An upper plate 28 is mounted on the base plate 21 by means of bolts 29 and 35 each having spacing sleeves 3| to space the plates 21 and 26 apart.

Feed plates 32 are suitably secured to the plate 26 in spaced apart position to form intervening longitudinal grooves 33. The plates 32 are provided with transverse feed shoulders 34 which are slightly less in height than the thickness of the cross walls H and with forward extensions 35 forming a rectangular recess 36 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The chute containing the cross walls H of the carton is formed by a. main front wall 31 from which extend dividing walls 38 forming a chute chamber 36 over each feed plate 32 for holding a pile of cross walls H supported at its base on the corresponding feed plate 32. The lower portion of each pile is guided into position by the inturned lip 39. A gauge plate 46 is provided which is adjustable by the set screws 4| extending through slots 42 in the wall 91 to ensure that only the bottommost cross wall is fed forward at each feed stroke of the plate 32.

A channel 43 extends forward from the front end of each recess 36 and is formed by the spaced apart walls 44 and 45 secured to the base plate 21 which converge gradually towards the forward edge of the base plate 21 and then extend forward parallelly to overhang the base plate 21 as indicated at 46. The centres of the overhanging portions 46 are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between centres of the slots G of the carton and in alignment therewith. The lower edge of each wall 44 of the overhanging portion 46 is extended as illustrated at 41 in Fig. 18 and bent around the bottom of the wall 45 to form a support for the cross wall H contained in the channel portion 46 and in which they are held in a vertical position.

As the-cross walls are fed forward from the 40 chute chambers 38 in a horizontal position, it is necessary that mechanism be provided for tipping them to a substantially vertical position before entering the channels 43, which tipping mechanism I will now describe.

45 The wall 44 of the channel 43 extends rearwardly at 44 along the edge of the feed plate extension and is provided with a reduced por-, tion 44 (see Fig. 12) so as to enter the channel 33. The portion 44 is provided with a flange 48 50 secured-to the bottom of the channel 33. The

corresponding end of the wall is curved outwardly to meet the front end of the longitudinal edge of the recess 36 as indicated at 49.

Spaced in front of each bolt 29 is a bracket (see Fig. 6). Between the brackets 59 and bolts 29 is mounted a slide bar 5| provided intermediately of its length with a notch 52. A lever 53 (see Fig. 6) is pivoted at 54 between the plates 21 and 28. The arm 55 of the lever extends at its end through the notch 52 and is spring-held at 56. 51 is a stop bracket secured to the frame member 2| and 56 is an arm extending from the lever 54 to engage the bracket 51 as the base plate 65 21 moves backward to tis rearward position.

Beneath each recess 36 is a plate 59. The plates 59 are secured to the bar 5| and are carried beneath the extensions 35 when the bar 5| is moved in the direction of arrow (see Fig. 9) to 70 the position illustrated in Fig. 10.

A bar 66 is secured to the chute wall 31. The rear face of the bar 60 is grooved vertically at 6|. Slidably contained in each groove 6| is a gravity stop 62. The lower ends of the stops 62 normally 75 rest on the feed plates 32. The lower end of each stop 62 is inclined forwardly at 63 and is provided with a projection 53*.

I will now describe the operation by which the cross walls are fed forward in their horizontal position from the chute, chambers 33 prior to their being tilted to a vertical position.

As the base plate 21 and mechanism carried thereby completes its rearward movement in the direction of arrow (see Fig. 5) the arm 55 of the lever 53 is swung forward on its pivot 54 swinging the lever arm 55 in the direction of arrow (see Fig. 6) to carry the bar 5| and the plates 59 in a corresponding direction. By the same movement of the plate 21, the feed shoulders 34 are carried rearwardly past the rear edges of the lowermost cross wall H in the chute chambers 36*. As the plate 21 performs its forward or re turn movement in the opposite direction to arrow (see Fig. 5), the feed shoulders 34 engage the rear edges of the lowermost cross walls H carrying them forward.

As the cross walls H move forward their front edges engage the inclined edges 63 of the stop 62 forcing the stops upward in the grooves 6| to allow the cross walls to pass. After the cross walls H have passed the stops 52, they drop by gravity onto the feed plates 32. The feed plate 32 then again returns in the direction of arrow to feed the next cross walls forward. The rear edges of the cross walls already fed engage the forward lower edges of the stops 62 as they tend to travel rearwardly by frictional contact with the feed plates holding the cross walls stationary while the extension 35, recesses 36 and plates 59 are carried to beneath such cross walls by the rearward movement of the base plate 21. At this point in the operation, the parts assume the position illustrated in Fig. 9, the cross walls H lying substantially horizontal.

As the base plate 21 completes its rearward movement, the lever arm 58 engages the bracket 51 as above described forcing the arm 55 in the direction of arrow against the tension of the spring 56 and thereby forcing the bar 5| and the plates 59 carried thereby also in the direction of arrow allowing the heavy side of the cross wall to drop onto the base plate 21, the cross walls then assuming the inclined position illustrated in Fig. 10 and bearing at their lower edges against the base of the channel wall portion 44 The next forward movement of the base plate 21 carries the arm 58 away from the stop 51. The spring 56 then acts to return the arm 55, bar 5| and plates 59 to their normal position and thereby tilts the'cross wall H to the substantially vertical position illustrated in Fig. 11.

I will now describe the mechanism by which the cross walls H are fed forwardly through the channels 43 formed by the walls 44 and 45.

A main driving shaft 64 is mounted in suitable bearings carried by the main frame members 2| and 22. A cam 65 is secured to the shaft 64 adjacent each frame member 2| and 22. A lever 66 is pivoted at 61 to each frame member 2| and finger 69 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The upper end of each post 16 is provided with a sleeve 12 in which are secured parallel rods or bars 13 and 14 between which extend cross rods 15, 16, 11 and 18 which are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length of the cross walls H. The rear ends of the rods 18 and 14 extend into vertical guides 18 and 88 I I will now describe the operation of feeding the cross walls forward in the channels 43.

The cross walls H, it will be noted, have been tilted to the position illustrated in Fig. 11 during the first part of a forward movement of the base plate 21 on which the channel walls 44 and 45 are mounted. When the cross wallshave assumed this substantially vertical position, the major radius of the cam 85 engages the roller 88 to tilt the lever 88 upwardly to the dotted position shown in Fig. and thereby. by means of the fingers 88 and pins 1|, raise the posts 18 vertically carrying the parallel rods 13 and 14 and cross rods 15. 18, 11 and 18 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 5, that is above the level of the vertically set cross walls H.

When the rods 15, 18, 11 and 18 are in the dotted position, the base plate 21 completes its forward movement carrying the walls H when in the position shown in Fig. 11 to between the guide walls 44 and 45 and between the cross rods 15 and 16. The cams 85 then operate to carry the rollers 58 onto their minor radii of the cams 85 and the finger 88 back to its full line position allowing the rods 15 and 18 to drop and extend adjacent each end of the fed cross wall H. The base plate 21 carrying the channel walls 44 and 45 then makes its return movement, the rods 15 and 18 holding the fed cross walls stationary so that they are pushed to an advanced position in the channels 43. The cross rods 15 to 18 are then again raised to the dotted position by the cam 85. As the next forward feeding movement of the base plate 21 takes place, the cross wall which has been fed forward by the rods 15 and 18 is,

carried to a position beneath and between the rods 18 and 11 which are then carried to the full line position at each end of the fed wall H. The same operation is repeated on the next reciprocating movement of the plate 21 carrying the cross walls between the rods 11 and 18 which carries the walls H again forward onto the bottoms 41 of the parallel portions 48 of the channels 43 holding the cross walls in vertical position. The next forward movement of the base plate 21 carries the fed cross walls ahead of the cross rod 18 ready for the next forward feeding movement.

I will now describe the mechanism by which the side members A and B are fed into the machine and held in position ready for engagementby the cross walls H.

On the opposite end of the frame members 2| and 22 is secured a table 88 in which is formed an open ended slotted opening 8I. Feed plates 82 and 83 lie upon the table 88 with their inner adjacent edges curved downwardly at 84 and 85 over the longitudinal edges of the opening 8|, such curved edges having notches 85 and 81, the centres of which are spaced apart equal to the distance of the centres of the slots G of the carton members A and B.

A bracket 88 is secured to the frame member 22 to extend at right angles thereto, the upper face 88 of the bracket forming a table extension flush with the upper face of the feed plates 82 and 83. A filling plate 88 is secured to the table top 88 between the adjacent edges of the feed plates 82 and 83 and the extension table 88 so that the surface of the feed plates 82 and 83, filling plate 88 and extension table 88 are all fiush.

A double chute or container is mounted on the extension table 88 for containing the parallel side members A and B of the carton. The chute comprises a U-shaped central member 8| forming the inner walls 82 and 83 of the chutes. .The front of the chutes is formed by a single wall 84 which may be adjustable vertically to control the depth of the feed orifices 88 through which the blanks A and B are fed. Vertical rods 88 and 81 extend upwardly from the table extension 88 to form the sides of the chutes. The ends of the chutes are formed by the vertical rods 88 and 88.

A bracket member I88 is secured to the filling piece 88 and extends upwardly therefrom to carry the angle bars IM and I82. I83 and I84 are bracket members extending up from the table 88 on that side which is adjacent to the frame member 2|. Bars I85 and I88 extend respectively between the angle bar IM and bracket I83 and between the angle bar I82 and bracket I84. From the opposing faces of the bars I85 and I88 extend aligned guides formed by projections I81 and I88,

each projection being centrally slotted at I88 and- II8 to receive the ends of a cross wall H as indicated in Fig. 17. The upper ends of the slots I 88 and H8 are flared outwardly to permit the easy entrance of the cross walls into the slots. The slots I88 and H8 are-spaced apart to correspond with the spacing of the carton slots G.

Fingers III and H2 extend inwardly from the bars I85 and I86, their inner ends being downtumed at H3 and H4 and inclined laterally, to ensure of the easy passage of the members A and B as they pass from the feed orifice 95 to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 17, at H5 and H8.

Adjustable stops H1 and H8 are provided to limit the inward movement of the members A and B, such stops comprising angle pieces, the vertical portions of which extend up through orifices I I8 and I28 in the table top 88 and the horizontal portions secured to the table top 88 by set screws I2I and I22 extending through slots I23 and I24 also formed in the table 88.

A counter shaft I25 is journalled in bearings I28 and I21 carried on the frame member 22 and driven through the intermeshing bevel gears I28 and I28 from the driving shaft 64. On the shaft I25 are secured discs I38 and I3I from which extend pins I32 and I33. Bell crank levers I34 are pivotally mounted on the braces I35. The horizontal arms I38 and I31 of the bell cranks extend beneath the shaft I25 into the path of the crank pins I32 and I33. Each bell crank I34 is provided with an upwardly extending arm I38. I38 are slots formed in the table extension. I48 are blocks slidable the slots I38 and provided with depending lugs I4I. I42 are links connecting the lugs I4 I with the upper end of the bell crank arm I38.

Lower feed rollers I43 are provided mounted on a shaft I44 journalled in bearings I 45 forming part of the bracket 88. A sprocket I46 is secured to the shaft I44 and connected by a sprocket chain I41 to a sprocket gear I48 secured to the shaft I25. I48 are upper feed rollers secured to a shaft I58 journalled in pivoted arms I5I having upward extensions I52 connected by tension springs I 53 to the upwardly extending portion I54 of the stationary bracket I55. By this means the rollers I48 and I43 are held in contact. The shafts I44 and I58 rotate in unison by means of the inter-meshing gears I 58 and I51.

The shaft I25 in rotating rotates the sprocket wheel I48 which rotates the lower feed rollers Simultaneously the pins I32 and I33 engage the lever arms I36 and I31 to depress them and swing the arms I36 inwardlysliding the blocks I46 inwardly in the slots I36 against each-lowermost I carton memberA and B. The lowermost carton members A and B are thus forced-forwardly from the full line position shown in Fig. 4 to between the feed rollers I43 and I46 which carry the members forward to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 17 against the end stops H6 and I26 and the side stops I I3 and I I4 which position the slots G of the members A and B in a line with the parallel, end portions 46 of the channels 43 and with the cross carton walls held therein. The slots G when in this position are=in vertical alignment with the guide slots I06 and III].

I will now describe the means by which the cross walls are carried from the channel portions 46 and entered into the cross slots G of the side members A and B after they have been fed to the receiving position.

A transverse shaft I58 is journalled in bearings I56 and I66 carried on top of the frame members 2| and 22. A disc or spider wheel I6I is secured to the shaft I56. Arms I62 extend perpendicularly to the face of the wheel I6I. The ends I63 and I64 of the arms I62 are provided with rectangular grooves I65 and I66. A rod I61 rectangular in cross section is slidable in the grooves I65 and I66. I64 of the arm I62. I66 is a threaded plug screwed into the orifice I68 and carries a stem I10.

The rod I61 is provided with 2. lug I1I having an orifice I12 through which the stem I16 freely extends. A compression spring I13 is mounted on the stem I16 between the lug HI and the inner end of the screw plug I66.

Stationary gripping plates I14 extend transversely of the face of each arm I62 and are spaced apart and located at one side of the channel ends 46. The plates I14 are each provided with base lugs I15 at each end of the plate as clearly shown in Fig. 22 through which screws or other securing means extend into the arms I62.

Movable plates I16 are provided with base lugs I11. The plates I16 normally bear against the plates I14 and the lugs I11 fit between the lugs I15 are secured to the bar I61 by screws or other securing means I66.

The end of the bar I61 adjacent the frame member 2I projects beyond the arm I62, such projecting end being provided with a cam roller I16 coacting with a cam plate I16 secured to the frame member 2I. The cam plate I16 is in the form of a segment of a circle concentric with the shaft I56 so that the cam rollers I16 coact with the face thereof as the wheel I6I revolves. The face of the cam I16 at its rear end or the end in a line with the table opening 6| is inclined at I811.

The disc or spider I6I is rotated in the direc-- tion of arrow (see Fig. 5) from the drive shaft 64 by means of the sprockets I6I and I62 and sprocket chain I63.

The base plate 21 is operated from the drive shaft 64 by means of the eccentric I64, eccentric band I65 pivotally connected by the rod I66 to the lever I61 which is pivoted on the rod I66 extending between the side members 2I and 22 of the main frame. The upper end of the lever I61 I68 is a threaded orifice in the end is pivotally connectedtoa link I66 pivoted to the lug I66 depending from the base plate 21.

When an arm of the wheel revolves from the position K towards the position L, the gripping plates I14 and. I16 are held apart in the position shown at L, Fig. 4, a sufllcient distance to allow ,0! the channel ends' 46 passing therebetween.

The plates I14 and I16 are held in their separated position by means of the rod I61 and cam roller I16 bearing against the cam plate I16 against the pressure of the spring I13.

Simultaneously with this movement the 'base plate 21 and channel walls 44 and 46 travel for- ,wardlytowards the L position-of the arm I6I so that when the separated plates I14 and I16 arrive at the position L, a channel portion I46 with the cross walls H contained therein extends between each pair of plates I14 and I16. The cross rod 16 in this position bears against the rear edges of the cross walls H. As the base plate 21 again recedes, the cross walls H are held stationary by the rod 16 between the plates I14 and I16.

Immediately after the channel portions 46 have cleared the arm I62 as the plate-21 recedes, the cam roller I16 passes of! the cam plate I16 freeing the plates I16, the spring I13 then acting to grip the carton cross walls between the plates I16 and I14. The gripped carton cross walls are then carried through the position M (Fig. 5) to the position N (Fig. 5) or the position in which the hook portionsJ of the cross walls H engage the slots G of the side members A and B as illustrated in Fig. 14. The side members A and B have, as previously described, been fed into the position illustrated in Figs. 5, 14 and 17.

In Figs. 5 and 14 the hooked portions J of the cross walls H have entered the guide slots I66 and have passed into engagement with the slots G. As the wheel I6I continues to revolve the inner edge portions of the members A and B are drawn down free of the finger ends H3 and H4 towards the position illustrated in Fig. 15 so that portions J pass through the slots G and E of the carton members A and B, the projection J passing through the slits F at the upper end of the slots E, thus completely assembling the carton. As the assembled carton passes down from position N, the-corresponding cam roller I16 engages the inclined portion I6II of the cam plate I16 forcing the rod I61 longitudinally inward to separate the plates I14 and I16 and free the carton allowing it to drop.

I will now describe the means by which the assembled carton is collapsed into flat form ready for'shipment.

An endless belt I6I extends transversely of the main frame and is mounted on pulleys I62, and I63, I62 being a driven pulley and I63 an idler pulley. The pulley I62 is secured to a shaft I64 journalled in suitable bearings and to which is also secured a sprocket wheel I65. I66 is a sprocket wheel secured to the shaft I25 and connected to the sprocket wheel I65 by a chain I61. The belt I6I is provided with cross cleats I66 spaced apart a distance greater than the length of a carton.

As the carton is released and dropped. it strikes the inclined wall I66 thereby throwing it on its side as it strikes the belt I6I assuming the position illustrated by dotted lines 266 (Fig. '1).

2M is an inclined board located directly over the belt I6I, the upper end extending above the carton wall and the lower end extending in through. As the belt l9l revolves in the direction of arrow, a cleat I98 engages the end of the 5 carton member B as illustrated in Fig. '7. The

carton is then carried in the direction of arrow until the oppositeend of the member A engages the inclined wall l forcing the carton towards the collapsed position as illustrated by dotted lines at 200*. When the members A and B are brought into contact to allow the carton to pass through the mouth 202, the carton is completely collapsed.

In Figs. 24, and 26 I have illustrated an alternative form of mechanism for tilting the cross walls H from a horizontal to a vertical I position.

In these figures 203 is a base plate slidably mounted in guide ways 204. 205 are feed plates secured to the base plate and spaced apart a distance sufllcient to form longitudinal grooves 206, the depths of which are equal to their width in front of the feed shoulder 201. 208 is the carton cross wall chute. 209 and 2| 0 are the guide channel walls. 2 is the vertically movable frame having cross rods 2l2, 2l3, 2M and 2l5 for feeding the cross walls H forward in a similar manner to that previously described.

The side bars of the'frame 2 are connected by a cross bar2l6. Over each groove 206, a cam piece 2|! is secured to the cross bar 2l6.

When the cross walls H of the carton are fed forwardly from the chutes 208 by the forward movement of the feed plate 203 in the manner previously described, they assume a position illustrated in Fig. 26 overhanging the grooves 206. When the frame 2 is lowered to the feeding position, the cam pieces 2" are carried down striking the portions of the carton cross wall H 40 overhanging the grooves 206 to force the overhanging portion down into the groove to assume the dotted position shown in Fig. 26. The base plate 203 then makes its return movement, the bar 2I6 engaging the rear edge of the cross walls so that they are pushed into the channels formed by the walls 209 and 2|0. The frame 2 and cam pieces 2!! then rise leaving the cross walls free in the channels to be fed forward successively by the cross rods 2l2 to 2 IS in the manner previously described.

From this description it will be seen that I have devised a machine whereby the parts of an egg carton of the type disclosed may be automatically assembled into, a complete carton and then automatically collapsed into fiat form suitable for shipment.

Although I have described my machine as applied to the assembling of egg cartons it will be readily understood the fillers for egg cartons 0 formed by transversely slotted parallel side walls and cross walls of the form hereinbefore described may be assembled by the same device and in the same manner as described in connection with the cartons.

If found desirable a jogger maybe used to carry the blanks A and B definitely against the stops Ill and 8. This device, however, is commonly used for similar purposes and I do not 70 lay any claim to the same.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a machine for assembling egg cartons of the type described, a supporting table having a central opening and on which the carton side wall members are adapted to be laid with their inner faces uppermost and their slotted lower edge portions overhanging opposite sidesof the table opening, means for holding the carton side wall members in position to be withdrawable therefrom, a carrier having movement in a vertical plane, cross wall gripping members mounted on the carrier for holding the cross walls in alignment with the slots of the carton side wall members, and means for imparting movement to the carrier to carry the gripping devices centrally between the side wall members and through the table opening whereby the hooked ends of the cross walls engage the slots of the side-wall members to draw such side wall members downward through the table openingv into the assembled position with the cross walls.

2. In a machine for assembling egg cartons of the ,type described, a supporting table'having a central opening and on which the carton side wall members are adapted to be laid with their inner faces uppermost and their slotted lower edge portions overhanging opposite sides of the table opening, means for holding the carton side wall members in position to be withdrawable therefrom, a carrier having movement in a vertical plane, cross-wall gripping members mounted on the carrier for holding the cross walls in alignment with the slots of. the carton side wall members, means for imparting movement to the carrier to carry the gripping devices centrally between the side wall members and through the table opening whereby the hooked ends of the cross walls engage the slots of the side wall members to draw such side wall members downward through the table opening into the assembled position with the cross walls, and means for automatically opening the gripping members to release the assembled carton.

3. In a machine for assembling egg cartons of the type described, a supporting table having a central opening and on which the carton side wall members are adapted to be laid with their inner faces uppermost and their slotted lower edge portions overhanging opposite sides of the table opening, means for holding the carton side wall members in position to be withdrawable therefrom, a carrier having movement in a vertical plane, cross wall gripping members mounted on the carrier for holding the cross walls in alignment with the slots of the carton side wall members, means for imparting movement to the carrier to carry the gripping devices centrally between the side wall members and through the table opening whereby the hooked ends of the cross walls engage the slots of the side wall members to draw such side wall members downward through the table opening into the assembled position with the cross walls, means for automatically opening the gripping members to release the assembled carton, means for automatically inserting the cross walls in the open gripping members, and means for automatically closing the gripping members to grip the cross walls.

4. In a machine for assembling egg carton of the type described, a supporting table having a central opening and on which the carton side wall members are adapted to be laid with their inner facesuppermost and their slotted lower edge portions overhanging opposite sides of the table opening, means for holdingthe carton side wall membersin position to be withdrawable therefrom, a carrier having movement in a vertical plane, cross wall gripping members mounted on the carrier for holding the cross walls in alignment with the slots of the carton side wall members, means for imparting movement to the carrier to carry the gripping devices centrally between the side wall members and through the table opening whereby the hooked ends of the cross walls engage the slots of' the side wall members to draw such side wall members downward through the table opening and into the assembled position with the cross walls, means for automatically opening the gripping members to release the assembled carton, and means for automatically collapsing the assembled carton when released.

5. In a machine for assembling e88 cartons of the type described, a supporting table having a central opening and on'which' the carton side wall members are adapted to be laid with their inner faces uppermost and their slotted lower edge portions overhanging opposite sides of the table opening, means for-holding the carton side wall members in position to be withdrawabie therefrom, a carrier having movement in a vertical plane, cross wall gripping members mounted on the carrier for holding the cross walls in alignment withthe slots of the carton side wall members, means for imparting movement tothe carrier to carry the gripping devices centrally between the side wall members and through the table opening whereby the hooked ends of the cross walls engage the slots of the side wall members to draw such sidewall members downward through the table opening into the assembled position with the cross walls and in which the carrier comprises a suitably driven vertically set wheel member, arms extending perpendicularly from the wheel in position to pass successively centrally through the table orifice, and cross wail gripping members carried by the arms and adapted to hold the cross walls' in alignment with the slots of the carton side members supported on the table.

6. In a machine for assembling eg cartons of the type described, a supporting table having a central opening and on which the carton side wall members are adapted to be laid with their inner faces uppermost and their slotted lower edge portions overhanging opposite sides of the table opening, means for holdingthe carton side wall members in position to be withdrawable therefrom, bar like members or arms extending horizontally, cross wall gripping devices carried by the bar like members and spaced apart to hold the cross walls in a line with the side wall member slots when .supported on the table, and means for successively carrying the bar like members centrally through the table opening and the hooked ends of the cross walls into engagement with the slots of the carton side wall members.

7. In a machine for assembling egg cartons of the type described, holding means for the carton side wall members adapted to withdrawably hold such members horizontally inner side up and having adjacent ends of the slots of such members spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the hook portions of the cross walls, and meanscarrying the cross wall ton side wall member holder from which the side 'vidually gripping the cross walls as they arediswall members are withdrawable inwardly towards each other and downwardly, a cross wall carrier, and means thereon for gripping e'ach cross wall as it is discharged from the feed mechanism and carrying such gripping means over to-between'- versely slotted side wall members of the carton are held inner side up, means for spacing the lower edges of side members apart, a plurality of chute chambers each containing a pile of cross walls having hooked ends, means for feeding the 1 cross walls horizontally from the chute chambers, means for tippin the cross walls from a horizontal to a vertical position, channels in which the vertically set cross walls are held, means for feeding the vertically set cross walls along the channels and discharging them at the opposite end of such channels, means for indicharged, and a carrier for the gripping means adapted to convey the gripped cross walls from the above point of discharge tobetween the parallel carton side wall members and downward tending forwardly from each feed plate adapted to hold the cross walls in a vertical position, means for tipping. each cross wall from a horizontal to a vertical position, and means for feeding the vertically set cross walls into the channels and longitudinally thereof to discharge at their opposite ends.

11. In a machine for assembling cartons, the combination with the main frame provided with opposed guideways, a base plate slidable in the guide ways, an upper plate secured to but spaced above the base plate and feedplates secured to the upper plate having transverse feed shoulders, of across wall tipping device comprising extensions to the feed plates extending forwardly of the upper plate to form side recesses. a channel carried by the base plate one wall of which opposes the open side of the recess and the other wall extends from the end of the extension, a plate forming the bottom of the recess and slidable laterally beneath the extension, a stop device for preventing the return of the cross walls fed forward by the feed shoulders as the feed plate returns whereby the cross walls are carried onto the extensions and laterally slidable plates, and means for reciprocating the slidable plates to up-end the cross walls as the, feed plate completes and commences its reciprocating movement.

12. In a machine for assembling cartons, the combination with the main frame provided with opposed guideways, a base plate slidable in the guideways, an upper plate secured to but spaced above the base plate and feed plates secured to 75 the upper plate having transverse feed shoulders, of a cross wall tipping device comprising extensions to the feed plates extending forwardly of the upper plate to form side recesses, a channel carried by the base plate one wall of which opposes the open side of the recess and the other wall extends from the end of the extension, a plate forming the bottom of the recess and slidable laterally beneath the extension, 9. stop device for preventing the return of the cross walls fed forward by the feed shoulders as the feed plate returns whereby the cross walls are carried onto the extensions and laterally slidable plates, means for reciprocating the slidable plates to up-end the cross walls as the feed plate complets and commences its reciprocating movement, such meanscomprising a transverse bar slidably held between the base plate and upper plate and on which the laterally slidable plates are mounted, a spring held bell crank lever one arm of which engages the slide bar, and a stationary stop with which the other arm engages as the base plate completes its rearward movement.

13. In a machine for assembling cartons, reciprocating feed plates spaced apart, channels reciprocating with the feed plates and extending from such interspaces and tapering to the thickness of the cross walls, means for up-ending the cross walls to enter the channels, means coacting with the reciprocating channels for feed 'during the return movement of the channels.

14. In a machine-for assembling cartons, the combination with the main frame, reciprocating cross wall feed channels, a holder for the carton side members and the main driving shaft, of a carrier shaft driven from the drive shaft, a wheel face oi the wheel member, a spring pressed slid- 7 member mounted thereon, a semi-circular face cam secured to the main frame concentrically with the carrier shaft and having its entrance end inclined, horizontal arms extending from the able bar extending longitudinally of each arm and slldable therein, stationary cross wall gripping plates secured to the arms and movable gripping plates secured to the bar, the stationary and movable plates being carried together by the aforesaid spring pressure to grip the cross walls, and a cam roller at the inner end of each bar coacting with the face cam to separate the plates to release the cross walls after their engagement with the carton side members.

15. In a machine for assembling cartons, a holder for the side members of the carton comprising a table having an opening therein, a feed plate having a down-curved notched inner edge extending over each longitudinal edge of the table wardly to engage the slots of the carton side opening, guide bars supported above such notched edges and having inwardly extending projections having aligned guide slots therein into which the ends of the cross walls fit as they pass downmembers, fingers carried by each bar and having depending ends against which the adjacent edges of the carton side members fit, and adjustable stops carried by the table and against which the ends of the carton side members fit to align the 7 slots of the carto'n side members with the notches and slots of the holder.

16. In a machine for assembling cartons, the combination with mechanism for releasing a complete carton, of a carton collapsing device com- 5 prising an endless conveyor provided with cross cleats, means for directing the released carton so as to bear sideways against the conveyor with the adjacent parallel carton side wall member at one end of the cross walls into the path of the 10 cleat, a board inclined towards the conveyor to form a restricted mouth for the passage of the cleat and against the lower inclined face of which the opposite end of the other parallel carton side wall member at the opposite end of the cross walls engages to force it longitudinally to carry the cross walls and last mentioned parallel side wall member into contact with the opposing face of the first mentioned parallel carton side wall member to collapse the carton.

' 17. In a machine for assembling cartons, reciprocating cross wall feed plates spaced apart to form intervening longitudinal grooves and on which the cross walls are supported fiatwise to overhang the grooves at their upper edges, channels reciprocating with the feed plates and extending from the grooves and tapering to the thickness of the cross walls, means coacting with the grooves for tilting the cross walls to a vertical position to enter the channels,and means coacting with the reciprocating channels for feeding the vertically set cross walls longitudinally thereof to the discharge end.

18. In a machine for assembling cartons, a main frame, feed plates mounted in the main frame to reciprocate horizontally and spaced apart to form intervening grooves and on which the cross walls are supported fiatwise to overhang the grooves at their upper edges, channels extending from the grooves and tapering to the thickness of the cross walls and means coacting with the grooves for tilting the cross walls to assume a substantially vertical position in the grooves for entering the channels.

19. In a machine for assembling egg cartons of the type described, means for holding fiatwise a pair of independent parallel transversely slotted sidewall members with the slots of each pair in longitudinal alignment, and means for feeding cross walls having a slot engaging portion at one 50 end into engagement with one slot of each pair of aligned slots of one side wall member and the slot engaging portion at the opposite end of each cross wall into engagement with the other slot of each pair. of the aligned slots of the other sid wall member.

20. In a machine for assembling egg cartons of the type described including a pair of side wall members having transverse slots and cross walls having slot engaging ends, a carrier having movement in a vertical plane, a series of cross wall gripping members mounted on the carrier, means for automatically opening and closing the grip-- ping members receiving the cross walls, means for automatically inserting a cross wall in each open gripping member to grip thecross walls when closed whereby they are carried to the slot eng position by the movement of the carrier.

21; In a machine for assembling cartons, the 70 combination with the discharge end of the cross wall feed mechanism, and the holder for the slotted carton side walls of a suitably driven ro tatable carrier, bar members carried by the carrierat one end and arranged concentrically to the 7 centre of rotation, and a series of cross wall grippingdevices' carried by each bar member so as to be in alignment with the gripping devices of the other bar members and with the slots of the side walls held in the side wall holder.

22. In a machine for assembling cartons, the combination with the main frame, of a movable carrier, bar members extending from the face of the carrier, stationary cross wall gripping plates secured to the bar members, a spring pressed slide bar extending longitudinally of each carrier bar,

gripping plates secured to the slide bar to enact with the stationary plates to grip a cross wall, a cam plate secured to the main frame and having its entrance end inclined to receive the end of each slide bar to move it longitudinally to carry the gripping plates thereof away from the sta tionary gripping plates to release the carton cross walls allowing the completed carton to drop as the carrier is moved.

23. In a machine for assembling cartons, reciprocating cross wall feed plates spaced apart to form intervening longitudinal grooves and on which the cross walls are supported flatwise to overhang the grooves at their upper edges, and means coacting with the grooves'for tilting the cross walls to a vertical position within the grooves by depressing the aforesaid upper edge to the bottom of the groove and into contact with a side wall of the groove.

24. In a device for assembling" cartons or fillers comprising transversely slotted side walls and cross walls separated from the side walls and having hooked ends, gripping devices engaging the centre portion or body of each cross wall in spaced position to correspond to the spaced position of the transverse slots of the side walls, and means for carrying the cross walls towards the side walls and the hooks of the cross wall simultaneously into engagement with the slots.

25. In a machine for assembling cartons comprising transversely slotted side walls and cross walls having hooked ends for engaging the slots, a table having a transverse opening overhlmg at its opposite edges by the inner ends of the slots of the side walls, means for carrying the hooked ends of the cross 'walls into engagement with the slots of the side walls and the cross walls through the table opening thereby drawing the side walls through the opening and into a position parallel with the ends of the cross walls.

26. In a machine for assembling cartons comprising transversely slotted side walls and cross walls having slot engaging hooks at each end of each cross wall, a. table having a transverse opening equal in width to the distance between the hooks of the cross walls and the opposite edges of which are overhung by the inner ends of the side wall slots, means for carryin the hooked ends of the cross walls into engagement with the slots of the side walls and the cross walls downwardly through the table opening thereby drawing the side wall over the edges of the table opening to carry them into a parallel position with the ends of the cross wall as the cross walls pass downward from .the table opening.

27. In a machine for assembling cartons comprising transversely slotted side walls and cross walls having a slot engaging hook at each end of each cross wall. a table having a transverse opening equal in width to the distance between the slot engaging hooks of the cross walls and having notched opposite edges which are overhung by the inner ends of the side wall slots, means for carrying the hooked ends of the cross wall downward into engagement with the slots of the carton side walls and through the notches of the table opening thereby drawing the side walls downward over the edges of the table opening to carry them into a parallel position with the ends of the cross walls as the cross walls pass downward from the table opening.

28. In a machine for assembling cartons comprising'transversely slotted side walls and cross walls having hooked ends for engaging the slots, a holder for the cross walls including a series of stationary and movable gripping membersheld together, a support for such members, and means for moving the gripped cross walls and slotted side walls relatively one to the other to carry the slots of the side walls into engagement with the hooks of the cross walls.

29. In a machine for assembling cartons comprising transversely slotted sidewalls and cross walls having hooked ends for engaging the slots of the side walls, a holder for the cross walls including a series of stationary and movable gripping members held together to hold the cross walls in such a position that the hook ends of the cross walls will simultaneously engage the slots of the side walls when the hooks and slots are brought into engaging position.

30. In a machine for'assembling cartons comprising transversely slotted side walls and cross walls having hooked ends for engaging the slots of the side walls, a holder for the cross walls including a series of stationary and movable gripping members spring held together to hold the cross walls with their hooked ends exposed and spaced apart equal to the spacing of the slots of the cross walls, and means for holding the side walls in a horizontal position at each end of the cross walls whereby when the hooked ends of the cross walls engage with the adjacent ends of the slots of the side wall such side walls swing inward towards the ends of the cross walls to assume a position parallel thereto.

31.. In a machine for assembling egg cartons of the type described, means for holding flatwise in the same plane a pair of independent parallel transversely slotted side wall members with the slots of one side wall member of the pair in longitudinal alignment with the slots of the other side wall member of the pair and with their adjacent edges spaced apart, and means for feeding cross walls having a slot engaging portion at each end of each cross wall centrally between the adjacent edges of the side walls so that a slot engaging portion at one end of each cross wall engages a slot of one side wall and a slot engaging portion at the other end of each cross wall engages a slot of the other side wall.

32. In a machine for assembling cartons, a cross wall transferring means comprising a rotatable element, bar members secured rigidly at one end to the face of the element and arranged concentrically, and a series of cross wall gripping devices carri'ed by each bar member.

33. In a machine for assembling cartons of the type described, the combination with a movable assembly mechanism including the parallel arms thereof and the cross wall gripping members carried on the arms in spaced apart and normally open position, of a reciprocating plate. cross wall guides carried by the plate and projecting forwardly of the plate, means for reciprocating the plate to carry the projecting portions of the guides to a position between the open gripping members by their forward movement, means holding the cross wall stationary during the return movement of the guides, whereby such cross walls are left in position between the open gripping members, and means for closing the gripping members to grip the cross walls as the guides recede from the gripping members.

34. In a machine for assembling cartons of the type described, the combination with mechanism for feeding forward a set of cross walls, of a rotating device having a plurality of arms adapted to travel on a circular path each arm carrying a set of cross wall gripping devices in which each cross wall of each set is individually gripped in a line with the slots of the side walls, and means located in the circular path of the arms and their gripping devices for holding a pair of side walls with their slots in position to be engaged by the gripped cross walls as the rotating device revolves.

35. In a machine for assembling cartons having side walls having spaced apart parallel slots extending in a row longitudinally thereof, a cross wall transferring means comprising a rotatable element, bar members extending longitudinally from the face of the rotatable element and arranged concentrically thereof and approximately equal in length to the length of the carton side walls, and a series of spaced apart cross wall gripping means carried by each bar member and spaced apart so as to be in line with the carton side wall slots.

36. A method of assembling cartons of the type described consisting in taking a pair of carton side walls each folded on a longitudinal medial line to form a bottom wall portion and an outer wall portion successively feeding the folded side walls in pairs with their medial lines of fold adjacent, simultaneously feeding cross walls in sets towards a point of assembly with the side walls, then picking up the fed cross walls a set at a time, and assembling without interruption lost or backward motion the ends of eachcross wall of the set simultaneously with the bottom and outer wall portions of the pair of side walls as they meet at the point of assembly to form a completed carton.

37. In a machine for assembling cartons of the type described comprising mechanism for successively feeding carton side walls in pairs each wall formed by a bottom wall portion and an outer wall portion folded upon each other and mechanism for simultaneously successively feeding cross walls in sets towards a point of assembly and mechanism for picking up each set of cross walls successively and simultaneously assembling each end of each wall of the set by a continuous operation with the bottom and outer wall portions of a fed side wall.

38. In a machine for assembling cartons of the type described comprising mechanism for successively feeding carton side walls in pairs each wall comprising a bottom and outer wall portion folded upon each other and mechanism for simultaneously and successively feeding cross walls in sets towards a point of assembly and mechanism for picking up each set of cross walls successively and simultaneously assembling each end ofeach wall of the set with the bottom and outer wall portions of a fed side wall to form a set-up carton and means for collapsing the carton from the aforesaid set-up position to a flattened position for shipment.

JOSEPH LEOPOLD COYLE. 

